Connectsb eob mine cabs and the like



Match 20, i928.

l,662,893 J. F. Q'CONNOR v CONNECTER FOR MINE CARS AND THE LIK original Filed sept. ze, 1923 Patented Mar. 20, 1928. Y lpgo fhll'l", ST Flvlqlhlwil JOHN OCONNOR, OF CHICAGO, ILLNOIS, ASSIGNOR, :BYl MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, '.I.Ov W. E. MINER, INC., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

CONECTER FOR MINE CARS AND THE LIKE.

Application filed September 28, 1923. Serial No. 665,310. i

This invention relates to improvements in shank 16 by a pair of parallel arms 21 eX- 55 connecters for mine car's and the like. tending in the same direction and a trans- One object of this invention is to provide verse section 22 connecting the arms. The y a simple and relatively' inexpensive conside members 19 of the head are provided necter, yespecially adapted for mine cars, with alined journal openings as indicated at wherein resilient means is provided for eifec- 23, and the upper surface Vof the web' 20 60 tively cushioning the shocks in both buif and forming the top of the head 18 is rounded draft. v oi as indicated at 24, for a purpose herein- Other objects and advantages of the 1nvenafter described.

tion will more clearly appear from the de- The blocks D and E are each provided scription and claims hereinafter following. with a centrally disposed, downwardly pro- 65 In the drawing forming a part of this jecting, cylindrical stein 25 and the projectspecification, Figure( 1 is aV vertical, longiing Yend of each drawbar is provided with an tudinal, sectional view of the adjacent ends opening 26 adapted to receive the stem of of two mine cars, showing my improvements one of the blocks. The stem of each block in connection therewith. Figure 2 is a top serves to swivelly connect the same to the 70 plan view of the structure illustrated in Corresponding drawbar,the block resting on Figure 1. Figure 3 is a transverse, vertical, the drawbar and the stem projecting below sectional view corresponding substantially to the same and having a collar 27 pinned to the 'line 3-3 of Figure 1. Figure l is a the lower end thereof to retain the block in view similar to Figure 2,'showing a different position. Proper clearance is provided be- 75 embodiment of the invention, and Figure 5 tween the respective end walls 11 and the is a vertical sectional view corresponding blocks D and E so that the latter will have substantially to the line 5 5 ofrFgure 4f. free swinging movement in ahorizontal plane.

In said drawing, referring first to the con-` The block E is preferably connected to struction illustratedin Figures 1, 2 and 3, the drawbar 12 at the gate end of the car 8o each mine car is shown as provided with a and the block D to the drawbar 12 at the suitableiheavy flooring'lO and a vertical end opposite end of the car, and the cars ar'e so wall 11. At the opposite ends, each car is disposed when coupled that `the block D on w also provided with a drawbar 12. Each the one car is disposed in opposed relation to drawbar is in the form of an elongated flat the block E of the adjacent car. 85

Plat@ extending through the cqrrespondme The block D is embraced by the Sie@ memend Wall 11 and SeCllleQlr ai? lSy lIlIleI 6nd- O bers 19 of the yoke A and is provided with a the eermg 10- Adlaeent the, Outer end, transverse opening 28 of generally rectanguh @eeh dreWber l2 1s PrOVlded Wrth e dOWrl lar cross-sectiomthe front and rear walls of Werdly Preleerllg lug 13 ebutrllg the end the opening being curved as indicated at 29. 90

0f the flooring 10- A belt 14 ,extending The set of spring plates C comprises a rhrerlgh thefdrewber, the Outer end 0f rhe series of flat rectangular plates arranged face eprlng 10 and e, Y transversely extendmg to face, forming together aV spring unit 4o remfererng member 15 et the lower slde 0f adapted to absorb the shocks in both buff the leorlng, 1s Preferably PrOVlded te secure and draft. The plates composing the set are 95 theolltel end the d1 `&WlC eIt0 the-eer vertically disposed, and extend through the The connectlng or COllpllIlgA H12H1S,P1`0PGT, opening 28 of the block D with the oppoas ShOWIl nlFgllfeS l, 2 and 3, lleferably site. ends thereof projecting an appreciable e5 comprises e yoke member A; e Peur 0f CUPS distance beyond the respective sides of the B-B5 a Sety Of SpIilIlg PlaGS C; and 'C WO block D,lthe set of plates tting tightly be# 10o blOCkS D and E SWlVeled t0 the leSPeClVe tween the curved front and rear walls of the drawbars oftwo adjacent cars. Opening 28,

The yoke member A comprises a shankl The cups B-B are of like construction, having a ring shaped eye 17 at one end and each being of cylindrical form and having a 'i a headl 18 at the opposite end. Thevhead 18 pocket 29 formed therein, having parallel 105 comprises spaced rside members 19-19 and a top yand bottom .walls and slightly flaring relatively heavy `top connecting .Y web 20. front and rear walls, the pockets at their The side members 19 are connected tothe inner ends corresponding in cross sectionaly so as to` freely accommodate the same.

areay to the area oit the corresponding end of the set ofplates C. Each otl the cups B is rotatably mounted in the opening 23 ot one of thesidermembers 19 ofthe head 18 andis.

provided with a peripheral groove 30 withf in which engages the side of a retaining pin 31 driven into the corresponding side member 19. The opposite ends ot the set of spring plates C are fitted in the respective cups B, and prevent thel cups from turning.l

` As 'the yoke A isjournaled on the cups B,"

it ismounted for swingingl movement ma vertical plane and may be dropped out of the way tothe dotted `line position shown inIigure 1 to provide proper clearance when the car is in a restricted space, as when the same is being handl'edon the/mine hoist.V

The block E is provided with an upwardly. opening, transversely extending, curved slot. 33, thereby providing an upstanding hook member '34 adapted to coact with the eye 17. The slot 33jis.correspondingly curved to the ring shaped eye4 and is ot'slightly greater widththan the thickness ot the ring theregt t will, be evident that when the eye 17 is engaged'with the hook 311, the buil' shocks will be transmitted through the eye to the rear wall of the. slot andthe draft shocks .will be sustained by the hook.

Indraft action,lit is evidentthat as the carsare vpulled apart, the yoke A being held by the hookon theone carand the block D beingrelatively Vfixed'to the other car, Vthe .3 yoke A" willbe pulled outwardly relatively to the block D, thereby` iexingthe set ot springplates Cand cushioning the shock. Ina buff 'act-ion, as the` cars approach each other, the yoke will be forced in la. direction opposite to that ust described, thereby flexing the springs in the opposite direction also.` It willfbeevident, that bycurving the 'front and rear walls ot the opening` 28 in the block D andtlaring the pockets of the cups-B, the' maximum resiliency of the spring plates is utilized.

When the'cars are uncoupled and the yoke A is in its pendant position as shown in dotted' lines in Figure 1, theV curved surface 24, which ,is normally the upper surface of the head'18 is disposed invertical position and forms a bufling surfacey coacting with a rounded bulling surface 35 termed at the outer end of the block E.

v Referringnext to the embodiment ofthe invention illustratedfin Figures 4 and 5, 11() indicates the {iooring of each mine car, 111 theendivvall., and. 112 the drawbar. The drawbars are in all respects similar to the Adravvbars illustrated inrFigures y1, 2 and 3,

being eachprovided with ar downwardly extending lu-g 11,3"abuttingrthe end'of'the flooring, 110 and iXedto the car by means ofabolt114 extending through the draw# bar, flooring and a reinforcing member.

cent-rally disposed, transverse, rectangular` opening, having relatively flaring frontV v"and rear walls, the openings 1n the twoarmsbe ing 1n ahnement and adapted to'V receive Vthe respective endsA of' the set of sprin plates CC The opposite ends ofthersetospringplates C proj ect heyond the* outer fsidesf off the respective arms 119` and are retainedinv assembledposition by a pair of pins 137, one

at -each end of the set, securedtolatei-ally projecting lugsl 138I onythe: correspondingfl arm 119,. The blockD isy provided wit-hva* stem 125 swiveled in the y'correspendiIig drawbary 112 and hasa transverselyextendf ing cylindrical opening `f139, in which thel sleeve B is journalecl The sleeve Bffis ot hollow construction, beingfprovided with` an opening 140 vofl generally'rectangular cross -v section, adapted to accommodate themajon portion of the springunit;comprisingthe'V set ot spring plates C", thev front andrearl walls of the opening being curved similar to* the walls of the opening of the block 'D pre*- viously described.

'lhe blockD is also provided. vvithgavstemY 125 `swiveled 4 in the Acorrespondingfdravvbar at the gate endy of 'the carvinr a manner-- similar to the block E; its upperside-V above the ,draWbar, the blockE is 'providedl with aspherical head'14l adaptedfto engage within, the pocket 117, whenfthe' cars'fare coupled itogether.' v

The yoke A may bedroppedoutf of" theU way in "a manner similaryto4 theyoke Lfthe l sleeve B rotating inthe i-blockgD.

The operation of'thedevice showninFig' ure l", is inalljrespectssimilr'to that prel. viously described `in connect-ion :withFigures 1, 2"`and3. 1 Y

I have herein shown'.and described what I now consider the preferred manner" of* lus carrying outE my invention, )but `thefsamej -is merely illustrative, 1 and I contemplate" all changes and' modfiications thatcome within y the SCOP@ Offthe Claimseppesddiheretf;

I claim: Y

1. In a resilient.4 shacklefor-vehicles,the.l combination with a yoke pivotallyconnected"u tothe car to swingv in laverticalplanepaf' springresistance incorporatedin saidV otal ,connection ,and co-acting withI said' yoke; abutment meanson` the end of :thev'car Y coacting with thev spring resistance; s and` means adaptedv for-y detachably connecting;

the-yoke to the endfofanothercarf- 2; In a connecter for cars, the combination with a block swiveled to the end of a` car, said block having abutment means thereon; of spring plates coacting with said abutment means; a yoke` having abutment means thereon coacting with said spring plates, said yoke being mounted for swinging movement in a vertical plane; and means on the free end Vof said yoke for detachably connecting the same to another car.

3. In a connecter for cars, the combination with a yoke having means thereon for detachably connecting it to a car; of a spring resistance comprising a plurality of iiexible plates coacting with said yoke; and means secured to another car embracing said plates and holding the same against movement longitudinally of the car, said holding means and yoke being relatively movable longitudinally of the car and said yoke be# ing rotatably mounted on said plates to swing in a vertical plane.

4. In a connecter for cars, the 'combination with a yoke having means at one end for detachably connecting thesame to a car; of a springrunit comprising a plurality of resilient plates; a block swiveled to the end of another car, said block having means thereon for holding said spring unit against movement relatively thereto; and means at the other end of said yoke embracing said blockfor swingingly connecting said yoke to said springunit for movement in a vertical plane.

5. In a connecter for cars, the combination with a yoke pivotally connected to one end of a car for swinging movementin a vertical plane; a spring resistance coacting with said yoke, said resistance being connected to said car; a buiiing surface on the adjacent end of another car; and a buffing surface on said yoke adapted to be brought into operative position to coact with said rst named builing surface when said yoke' is in a pendant position.

6. In a connecter for two adjacent vehicles,

the combination with a member adapted to be attached at one of its ends to the end of one of the vehicles; of a universal joint connection for attaching the opposite end of said member to the adjacent end of the other vehicles, said universal joint connection having embodied therein resilient shock absorbing means.

7. In a connecter for cars, the combination with a connecting device adapted to inter-connect adjacent cars; of means for pivotally securing one end of said device to one of said cars, the pivotal connection including cushioning means incorporated therein, said device having a buiiing surface thereon, adapted to be arranged in operative position only when said device is in inoperative position.

8. In a connecter for cars, the combination with a connecting yoke adapted to interconnect adjacent cars; of means for pivotally securing one end of said yoke to one of said cars so that said yoke may be swung in a vertical plane, said yoke having a bufhng surface thereon so arranged as to lie on the top of said yoke when the yoke is in its operative position and to be swung to operative position when said yoke is swung to inoperative position.

9. In a connecter for cars, the combination with a yoke having means thereon for detachably connecting it to a car; of a spring resistance co-acting with said yoke; and means secured to another car engaging said spring resistance and holding the same against movement longitudinally of the car, said holding means and yoke being relatively movable longitudinally of the car, and said yoke being mounted to swing in angular planes relative to said holding means.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 26th day of September, 1923.

JOHN F. OCONNOR. 

